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2020 MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

19, the asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic person posed a problem in dotes of people using a negative test as a short cut in quarantine re-
spreading the disease. Though many clinicians know this attribute is quirements. The waiting game was lost.
not unique to the coronavirus, public health becomes concerned when
a silent spreader may be unknowingly exposing persons at higher risk. 6. What to DO: Social Responsibility on the backdrop
Public health, with their partners, took on the daunting task to no- of changing guidelines
tify people who were exposed to a confirmed case. They made phone As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, watching
calls that were unanswered half the time. They waited for return calls. other countries shut down in ways that current memories had not ex-
Based on the situation, some employers or schools were notified. Long perienced was mesmerizing. Limiting travel, shuttering businesses,
term care facilities were notified to stop admissions if a resident was closing schools, changing behaviors in greeting each other…Americans’
found to be positive. Universities suspended team games when mem- watched and waited. Within a few weeks, the United States grappled
bers got sick. The work of notifying was a tremendous undertaking with the same dire measures and drastic decisions. Travel as we knew
that included education, resource it ceased, schools indefinitely sus-
sharing and empathy. pended the Spring Break tradition,
The contact tracers heard stories of universities emptied dorms, tempo-
the loss of loved ones, job loss, home rary hospital beds were created, ra-
displacement and theories galore. tioning of personal protective
For some, the burden of hearing equipment became symbolic of a
heartbreaking tales of families sepa- country reeling from the impacts of
rated, and unaccompanied hospital- a deadly virus. Health care workers
izations or video-call, final good-byes, were the front line of defense and
brought the public health worker to grocery store employees risked their
tears. Contacting people during a well-being to ensure food and sup-
pandemic and hearing how it has im- plies were available to all. Hording of
pacted them was emotionally chal- essential items and shortages were
lenging. often a combination of a fragile just-
in-time supply chain and human psy-
5. The Waiting Game chology in a crisis.
The other reason an asymptomatic As national public health guidance
or pre-symptomatic person is of con- changed (“masks don’t work well” to
cern in contact tracing is because once someone was identified as a “wear a mask all the time”, “test again to see if the virus is cleared” or
contact to a confirmed case of COVID, the contact needed to quar- “don’t test again for 90 days”), the public and clinicians grappled with
antine and wait for test results or symptom onset. Ideally, a person what to do exactly. People were asked to stay home, limit outings to
who was exposed would be in quarantine for 14 days, which seemed essential actions like grocery shopping. Over a short time, the list of
like an eternity for most. The waiting game was a cornerstone to the essential activities increased, the economic strangle-hold impact on
COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “Act as if you have it” was the mantra business and families emerged, the issues of unsafe home environ-
preached to people who had been exposed and even the public. ments, holiday traditions and changing recommendations caused a
After someone was exposed to COVID, or if they had mild symp- quick slide back toward a false normalcy. This led to a COVID surge
toms that could be consistent with the virus, the next step was to get in the middle of summer, when respiratory illnesses rarely spike. The
a test done. That process was not easy either. Early in the pandemic, spike in cases, hospital capacity and deaths across the state, led to a
the test locations were fraught with long lines (albeit, by car). People statewide mask mandate which ultimately led to a reduction in the
hoped they could access the test (“do you have symptoms?”), wanted number of cases. People eventually settled into a risk-acceptance level
to know which test would be used and the speed in getting a result. that was mitigated by wearing a mask, staying six feet apart and hand
Sure, everyone wanted the rapid test which came about later in the washing.
year, but it was challenging to find testing locations and the results Some risk-taking was inevitable in a population that had grown
were not definitive. Despite knowing a test result should not clear weary of the changes in life as we knew it. Young people suddenly felt
someone to resume normal activities since the virus could still manifest a sense of immunity to the virus and attended college parties or went
within 14 days after exposure, the community was filled with anec- to bars. Older people missed grandchildren and opted to visit.
continued on page 16
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